MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTS IN FOODS , FEEDS AND WATER

1. Guidelines for submission of samples for microbiological testing.

General Conditions
 Packaging – no leakage, no breakage, no damage
 Sample brought in cooler box except those stored at ambient temperature and canned products
 Expiry date

FROZEN WATER AND CHILLED MILK AND FEED, CANNED

SAMPLES ICE PRODUCTS MILK CEREALS PRODUCTS AND
PRODUCTS AND GRAINS OTHER SEALED
PRODUCTS (Stable)
No sign of Seal not broken (for No visible 1. Samples should No mould , Cans not dented, not
thawing bottled water) sign of not be > ¾ full to unless under rusty and not swollen
damage, no avoid leakage and investigation
Samples should not mould allow proper
INTEGRITY
be more than ¾ full mixing
to avoid leakage
and allow proper
mixing
Less than 0 Ambient up to Between 0 to 8 Between 0 to 8 °C Up to 30°C Up to 30°C
°C 30°C for bottled °C
water
TEMPERATURE
2-8°C for water

Below 0°C for ice

100g 1 liter 100g 100 ml 100g Net weight: minimum
MINIMUM size for sample(s) =
WEIGHT/ 100g (If 50g, two cans
VOLUME must be taken)

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 2. List of microbiological testing performed at the laboratory

2.1 Accredited test method by Mauritius Accreditation Service (MAURITAS)

s/n Items, Specific tests or properties measured range of measurement Specification, standard
materials or methods or technique
products used
tested
1 Food Horizontal method for the enumeration of microorganisms – Colony- count technique at ISO 4833:2003
30oC

2 Food Horizontal method for the enumeration of coliforms – Colony- count technique ISO 4832:2006

3 Food Horizontal method for the enumeration of ß-glucuronidase –positive Escherichia coli in ISO 16649-1:2001
food and feed-Colony Count Technique at 44 oC 5-bromo-4-chloro-3- indolyl β-D
glucuronide

4 Food Horizontal method for the enumeration of coagulase – positive staphylococci ISO 6888-1:1999
(Staphylococcus aureus and other species) Part 1:Technique using Baird Parker agar
medium

5 Water Enumeration of culturable microorganisms - Colony-count by inoculation in a nutrient ISO 6222:1999

agar culture medium (22 0C and 36 0C)
6 Water Detection and enumeration of intestinal enterococci Part2:Membrane filtration ISO 7899-2:2000
method

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2.2 Other test methods

Sn Items, materials Specific tests or properties measured range of measurement Specification, standard
or products methods or technique used
tested

1 Food Horizontal method for the enumeration of Clostridium perfringens- Colony-count technique ISO 7937 : 2004(E)

2 Food Horizontal method for the detection and enumeration of coliforms –Most probable number technique ISO 4831: 2006(E)

3 Food Horizontal method for the enumeration of ß-glucuronidase –positive Escherichia coli Part 2: Colony ISO 16649-2 :2001(E)
Count Technique at 44 oC using 5-bromo-4-chloro-3- indolyl β-D glucuronide

4 Food Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs – Horizontal method for the detection of presumptive ISO 6579: 2002(E)
Salmonella spp.

5 Food Horizontal method for the detection and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes- Detection Method ISO 11290-1 :1996(E)

6 Food General Guidance for the enumeration of Bacillus cereus –Colony Count Technique at 30 oC ISO 7932:2004(E) -

7 Food General guidance for enumeration of yeasts and moulds-Colony count technique at 25 oC ISO7954:1987(E)

8 Food Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs- Horizontal method for the enumeration of yeasts and ISO 21527-1: 2008
moulds-Part 1: Colony count technique in products with water activity greater than 0,95

9 Food Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs- Horizontal method for the enumeration of yeasts and ISO 21527-2: 2008
moulds-Part 1: Colony count technique in products with water activity less or equal to 0,95

10 Food Sterility and Stability of Canned Foods FDA/CFSAN BAM: 2001

11 Water Detection and enumeration of spore of sulphite-reducing (clostridia)- Part 2: Membrane filtration ISO 6461

12 Water Detection and enumeration of Escherichia coli (E.coli) and coliform bacteria-Part 1: Membrane ISO 9308-1 (2000)
filtration

13 Water Detection and enumeration of pseudomonas aeruginosa by membrane filtration. BS EN 12780 (2002)

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